Comments on: Here Be Dragons… http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/ Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life… Sat, 02 May 2026 21:44:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: CherryPie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21498 CherryPie Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:28:13 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21498 I am not sure where the myth comes from. There are two lines of thought. One is from the dinosaur fossils as you mention and the other is from the serpent which is a common theme in mythologies. The serpent and beasts from those mythologies seem to have metamorphosed from their simple beginnings into something far more complex and fanciful. I think some of the explanations and representations are a metaphor. If you take the snake as the basis for the development of a dragon (myth). The European dragon has got rather fanciful over the years, but the Chinese dragon is still somewhat snake-like. Just some thoughts of mine ;-) I am not sure where the myth comes from. There are two lines of thought.

One is from the dinosaur fossils as you mention and the other is from the serpent which is a common theme in mythologies.

The serpent and beasts from those mythologies seem to have metamorphosed from their simple beginnings into something far more complex and fanciful. I think some of the explanations and representations are a metaphor.

If you take the snake as the basis for the development of a dragon (myth). The European dragon has got rather fanciful over the years, but the Chinese dragon is still somewhat snake-like.

Just some thoughts of mine ;-)

]]> By: Don QuiScottie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21497 Don QuiScottie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:46:47 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21497 I expect the dragon myth comes from dinosaur fossils, as that makes the mythology right about just about everything, including the flying, but not about the breathing of fire (at least I presume not...); but I may be talking nonsense, as I often do. I expect the dragon myth comes from dinosaur fossils, as that makes the mythology right about just about everything, including the flying, but not about the breathing of fire (at least I presume not…); but I may be talking nonsense, as I often do.

]]> By: CherryPie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21496 CherryPie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:19:20 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21496 Your thoughts and researched prompted me to look in a book on Dragons that I have had for a number of years (published in 1979) and forgotten about till now. It shows the mythical creature as it was depicted and thought of in different eras. The book wasn't much help, it showed dragons in all shapes and sizes. Some had no legs at all and some breathed fire and others didn't, but they were all lumped under the same category 'Dragon'. Great artwork though. I also remembered another book I have (also published in 1979) in which the author tries to convince us that Dragons were real. He explains the mechanics of how they could fly and breath fire. This book also has great artwork but is no use in identifying the creatures in the monument... Your thoughts set me thinking (as always ;-) ) and I remembered another dragon-like mythological creature. The Chimera or La Chimère in French and the description seems to fit these dragons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_%28mythology%29 Now onto your aside about the shopping. I have to admit I would much rather have been in the coffee shop with a WiFi connection, I dislike shopping and avoid shops, unless it there is a good book shop nearby ;-) Your thoughts and researched prompted me to look in a book on Dragons that I have had for a number of years (published in 1979) and forgotten about till now. It shows the mythical creature as it was depicted and thought of in different eras. The book wasn’t much help, it showed dragons in all shapes and sizes. Some had no legs at all and some breathed fire and others didn’t, but they were all lumped under the same category ‘Dragon’. Great artwork though.

I also remembered another book I have (also published in 1979) in which the author tries to convince us that Dragons were real. He explains the mechanics of how they could fly and breath fire. This book also has great artwork but is no use in identifying the creatures in the monument…

Your thoughts set me thinking (as always ;-) ) and I remembered another dragon-like mythological creature. The Chimera or La Chimère in French and the description seems to fit these dragons:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_%28mythology%29

Now onto your aside about the shopping. I have to admit I would much rather have been in the coffee shop with a WiFi connection, I dislike shopping and avoid shops, unless it there is a good book shop nearby ;-)

]]> By: Don QuiScottie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21493 Don QuiScottie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 15:08:22 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21493 "sir" = air! Damn typos “sir” = air!

Damn typos

]]> By: Don QuiScottie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21492 Don QuiScottie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 15:06:19 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21492 Some copper ions involved in that greenery - copper oxide, carbonate, whatever... probably a mixture, formed by reaction of the metal with the sir and rain. Unless the beast can photosynthesis like plants, of course... Some copper ions involved in that greenery – copper oxide, carbonate, whatever… probably a mixture, formed by reaction of the metal with the sir and rain. Unless the beast can photosynthesis like plants, of course…

]]> By: Don QuiScottie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21491 Don QuiScottie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 15:02:57 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21491 Ah... "There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies, and the Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries.".... and... "A dragon is a mythological representation of a reptile. In antiquity, dragons were mostly envisaged as serpents, but since the Middle Ages, it has become common to depict them with legs, resembling a lizard. Dragons are usually shown in modern times with a body like a huge lizard, or a snake with two pairs of lizard-type legs, and able to emit fire from their mouths. The European dragon has bat-like wings growing from its back. A dragon-like creature with wings but only a single pair of legs is known as a wyvern." Then it gets more complicated; but judging by its head and horns I do not think you have a dragon there :) Ah… “There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies, and the Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries.”…. and… “A dragon is a mythological representation of a reptile. In antiquity, dragons were mostly envisaged as serpents, but since the Middle Ages, it has become common to depict them with legs, resembling a lizard. Dragons are usually shown in modern times with a body like a huge lizard, or a snake with two pairs of lizard-type legs, and able to emit fire from their mouths. The European dragon has bat-like wings growing from its back. A dragon-like creature with wings but only a single pair of legs is known as a wyvern.”

Then it gets more complicated; but judging by its head and horns I do not think you have a dragon there :)

]]> By: Don QuiScottie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21490 Don QuiScottie Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:58:51 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21490 That's an odd dragon, almost in a Griffin-like way but different. Looks like the head of a lion, the horns of a ram, the mane of a horse and the wings of a dragon with the tail of a lizard. But then who is to say what a dragon looks like? You have prompted me to head off to research the history of dragons (I think it may be Chinese). I have an idle hour, or two, or three... on wifi in a coffee shop while my lady is at the shops with another lady. Two Ladies + Shops = Wait until closing time :( That’s an odd dragon, almost in a Griffin-like way but different. Looks like the head of a lion, the horns of a ram, the mane of a horse and the wings of a dragon with the tail of a lizard. But then who is to say what a dragon looks like? You have prompted me to head off to research the history of dragons (I think it may be Chinese). I have an idle hour, or two, or three… on wifi in a coffee shop while my lady is at the shops with another lady. Two Ladies + Shops = Wait until closing time :(

]]> By: CherryPie http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21487 CherryPie Fri, 07 Dec 2012 23:45:33 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21487 Yes it is LC :-) Exposure to air and elements over the years have changed the colour of the dragons. And for James: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5974654_different-colors-bronze-finish.html Yes it is LC :-)

Exposure to air and elements over the years have changed the colour of the dragons.

And for James:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5974654_different-colors-bronze-finish.html

]]> By: London Caller http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21486 London Caller Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:42:54 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21486 I think that's "patina". ;o) I think that’s “patina”. ;o)

]]> By: james higham http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/index.php/2012/12/07/her-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-21485 james higham Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:41:14 +0000 http://www.cheriesplace.me.uk/blog/?p=9549#comment-21485 Why green though? Why green though?

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